Combination guide and position indicating arrangement for typewriters



y 22, 1962 R. FONDILLER COMBINATION GUIDE AND POSITION INDICATING ARRANGEMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 22, 1961 FIG.

lNl/ENTOP ROBERT FOND/LLER A 7' TORNE V United States Patent 3,035,680 COMBINATION GUIDE AND POSITION INDICAT- ING ARRANGEMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Robert Fondiller, 33 W. 63rd St., New York 23, N.

Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,832 6 Claims. (Cl. 197190) This invention relates to a combination guide and position indicating arrangement for typewriters and more particularly to an arrangement for holding paper records in proper relation to a typewriter platen and indicating the position of typed characters.

A broad object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for holding paper records and indicating typed character positions.

In conjunction with typewriters, arrangements including paper bails and fingers have been provided to hold a paper record in proper relation to the platen. .-In addition, line scales for indicating the position of typed characters are well known in the art. These conventional line scales are provided with an upper edge to define the type written line and graduations to define character spacings.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved combination guide and position indicating arrangement which minimizes visual obstructions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitary device for guiding paper records and indicating typed character positions.

A further object of this invention is to guide the paper record and indicate the typed character position at substantially the printing position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide magnification of the typed characters.

In accordance with a practical embodiment of this invention, the combination guide and position indicating arrangement comprises a rectangular sheet of transparent material. The device includes an outer surface and an inner surface, which inner surface is positioned adjacent to the typewriter platen by a resilient holding device to apply suitable pressure to a paper record. The inner surface includes, intermediate the upper and lower edges, a horizontal line which defines the typewritten line and graduations intersected by the horizontal line. The portion of each graduation above the horizontal line extends for a distance corresponding to the maximum height of a typed character. A portion of the outer surface describes a convex configuration magnifying the typed line. A rectangular slot is provided in the arrangement to admit the passage of the type bar.

The means for fulfilling the foregoing objects and the practical embodiment of the features of this invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the invention and the manner in which it cooperates with a standard typewriter;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective View of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 44 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the figures and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a standard typewriter platen 1 is shown together with a paper pan 2. As well known in the art, a paper record may be inserted between platen 1 and paper pan 2 whereby the paper record is advanced past the typing position by the rotation of platen '1. A standard type guide 3 is provided for insuring the positioning of the typewriter type bars, not shown. Ribbon vibrator 5 suitably supports a typewriter ribbon and oscillates between a ribbon rest position and a ribbon type position, which latter position is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

V A combination paper guide and position indicator is generally indicated by the numeral 7. As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, guide and position indicator 7 is held by brackets 9. Brackets 9, which are composed of resilient material, include front projections 12 and two rear support members 13 suitably spaced to correspond to the depth of guide and position indicator 7 permitting the insertion of lower edge 28 to seat indicator 7 in brackets 9 with projections 12 and members 13 providing spring pressure to frictionally hold indicator 7. Suitable holes are countersunk through rear support 13 to align with threaded holes 11 in indicator 7 whereby two screws 14 may be utilized to secure guide and position indicator 7 to brackets 9.

Brackets 9 include elongated holes 10 whereby brackets 9 are afiixed to supporting member 15 by two screws 17 which extend through threaded holes in member 15. Elongated holes 10 permit the vertical adjustment of brackets 9 in relation to member 15. Supporting member 15 in turn is suitably aifixed to the typewriter frame,

I a portion of which is generally indicated by numeral 19.

Combination guide and position indicator 7 is composed of a transparent material whereby the paper record may be visually observed therethrough. Inner surface 20 of indicator 7 is suitably formed to rest on the surface of platen 1 or on the surface of the paper record when inserted between indicator 7 and platen 1. Since brackets 9 are made of resilient material, suitable spring pressure is applied by indicator 7 to hold a paper record.

Graduations 22 are marked on inner surface 20 at substantially the midpoint between upper edge 27 and lower edge 28. These graduations are so arranged to define the particular spacing of the typed characters.

Horizontal line 23 intersects graduations 22 at a point where the length of the portion of each of graduations 22 above line '23 corresponds to the maximum height of a typed character. When indicator 7 is seated in brackets 9, brackets 9 are vertically adjusted in relation to member '15, as described above, so that indicator 7 is positioned with line 23 extending along the typewritten line and each of graduations 22 defines the exact character positions. In addition, since the upper portion of each of graduations 22 corresponds to the height of the characters, the top to-bottom location of each character is defined. Accordingly, the locations of the characters on the paper as determined by the graduations may be visually observed through indicator 7.

Rectangular cutout 21 in indicator 7 extends from upper edge 27. The length and width of cutout 21 is dimensioned to admit the passage of a type bar. 'It is'noted the line 23 extends to cutout 21 so that the letter to be typed can be aligned with those already typed. In addition, indicator 7 extends substantially above and below the typing line whereby the paper record is held in proper relation to the platen in the absence of a paper bail, for example, and suitable pressure is applied around the exact typing position.

Indicator 7 also includes outer surface 29. The upper portion of outer surface 29 comprises two portions 30, each of which involves a convex configuration. Since indicator 7 is composed of transparent material, surface configurations 30 provide magnification therethrough of the typewriter characters, line indicator 23 and graduations 22. To permit the entry of ribbon vibrator 5, convex surfaces 30 are terminated at edges 32.

Hole 25 is provided in indicator 7 between edges 32. Hole 25 is of sufficient diameter to permit the entry of a marking device such as a pencil. It is apparent that with a pencil inserted in hole 25 and platen 1 rotated or horizontally advanced, a vertical or horizontal line is impressed on the page record.

Bevel edges 34 are cut out of inner surface 20. Since indicator 7 applies suitable pressure to hold a page record, small cards may be front inserted by slipping the card under bevel edge 34.

Although a specificw embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen, a paper guide and position indicating arrangement comprising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface being marked with a straight line substantially parallel to and intermediate said edges to define a typewritten line and graduations perpendicular to and intersected by said straight line to define letter spacings, a rectangular slot through said sheet extending from one of said edges to admit the passage of a type bar, and means for urging said first surface toward said platen and for positioning said straight line to extend along the typewritten line.

2. A paper guide and position indicating arrangement for a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen comprising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface being marked with a straight line substantially parallel to and intermediate said edges to define a typewritten line and graduations perpendicular to and intersected by said straight line to define letter spacings, said sheet also having a rectangular slot therethrough extending from one of said edges to admit the passage of a type bar, resilient holding means for positioning said first surface adjacent to said platen and for positioning said straight line to extend along the typewritten line, and means including said holding means for urging said first surface toward said platen.

3. A paper guide and position indicating arrangement for a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen comprising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface eing marked with a straight line substantially parallel to and intermediate said edges to define a typewritten line and graduations perpendicular to and intersected by said straight line to define letter spacings, said second surface having a convex portion providing magnification of said graduations and the typewritten line, said sheet also having a rectangular slot therethrough extending from one of said edges to admti the passage of a type bar, resilient holding means for positioning said first surface adjacent to said platen and for positioning said straight line to ex- -end along the type written line, and means including said holding means for urging said first surface toward said platen.

4. A paper guide and position indicating arrangement for a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen comprising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface being marked with a horizontal line substantially parallel to said edges and graduations perpendicular to and intersected by said horizontal line to define letter spacings, said sheet also having a slot therethrough extending from one of said edges to admit the passage of a type bar, holding means including resilient bracket means engaging the other one of said edges for positioning said firstsurface adjacent to said platen and for positioning said horizontal line to extend along the typewritten line, and means including said holding means for urging said first surface toward said platen.

5. A paper guide and position indicating arrangement for a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen comprising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface being marked with a horizontal line substantially parallel to and intermediate said edges to define a typewritten line and graduations to define letter spacings perpendicular to and intersected by said straight line, the upper portion of each of said graduations above said horizontal line extending to a height corresponding to the maximum height of a typed letter, said sheet also having a slot therethrough extending from one of said edges to admit the passage of a type bar, resilient holding means for positioning said first surface adjacent to said platen and for positioning said horizontal line to extend along the typewritten line, and means including said holding means for urging said first surface toward said platen.

6. A paper guide and position indicating arrangement for a typewriter machine having a rotatable platen com prising a sheet of substantially rectangular transparent material having an upper and lower edge and a first and second surface intermediate said edges, said first surface being marked with a horizontal line substantially parallel to and intermediate said edges to define a typewritten line and graduations to define letter spacings perpendicular to and intersected by aid horizontal line, the upper portion of each of said graduations above said straight line extending to a height corresponding to the maximum height of a typed letter, said second surface having a convex portion providing magnification of said graduations and the typewritten line, said sheetvalso having a rectangular slot therethrough extending from one of said edges to admit the passage of a type bar, holding means including resilient bracket means engaging the other one of said edges for positioning said first surface adjacent to said platen and for positioning said horizontal line to extend along the typewritten line, and means including said holding means for urging said first surface toward said platen.

No references cited. 

